Vintage FAQ’s

Here are a few frequently asked questions about vintage that have cropped up time and again, all answered in one place:

How do I know which era it is from?

Some vintage stores will put the year it is from on the label. However, some stores make their own vintage style clothes so don’t put the years on their labels so you buy both vintage and handmade.

However, here are a helpers so you can pin point the year.

1920’s – this was the ear of rising hemlines and dropped waists, mostly relaxed styles

1930’s – this era showed many feminine and romantic influences from the popularity of the Hollywood ages

1940’s – this era was more conservative, inspired by men’s suiting there was less decoration and material in order to support the war

1950’s – in this post war era women were made to feel like ladies again

1960’s – this was the era of mod fashion and the mini skirt

1970’s – this era gave way to modern cuts, colours and fits

1980’s – this era showed a blend of 40’s influences with more futuristic fun

1990’s – this era is just about vintage (up to 1993)

What is my size in vintage?

It is very hard to tell, the best idea is to go from your size now and work from that. In the past women were normally very petite so therefore the sizes don’t tend match up with what they are now. The easy way round this is to know your body’s measurements.

Is vintage just for clothes?

No, you can buy vintage accessories, shoes, even curtains. In fact it can range from magazines, to old telephones.

Is something your mother wore classed as vintage?

Maybe, make sure it is still in good condition. Lots of moth holes aren’t the best look!

Why is it different from antique?

Antique tends to be at least 120 years old. They are completely different eras, which define the clothes.

Is vintage clothing the same as what’s in charity shops?

No, but it is mostly second hand. It can be something called ‘deadstock’ vintage, which is an item that was never sold so became ‘deadstock’. They commonly still have the original price tags or little signs of wear, due to storage.